Air Quality
The harmful pollutants around schools Public Health England’s report into air quality highlights the need to reduce air pollution in the vicinity of schools. Education Business reports on the measures that can be taken to decrease children’s exposure to harmful pollutants Public Health England (PHE) has published a review of evidence on how to improve air quality, giving recommendations to local and national government on actions they can take. Part of the review focuses on children, saying that they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, and urges for action to be taken to improve air quality in the vicinity of schools. It recommends that no-idling zones are implemented outside schools, for it to be made easier for children to walk or cycle to school, and to increase public awareness in relation to air pollution and children. Why are children more at risk? Exposure to air pollution in early life can have a long-lasting effect on lung function. There is evidence that the process of normal lung function growth in children is suppressed by long-term exposure to air pollution. Throughout childhood, there is a natural development of lung function and maximising this is important, as low lung function leads to less reserve if lung disease develops. Action in the capital Some of London’s most polluted primary schools have started to implement measures to help protect pupils for polluted air, with help from a £1 million fund from the Mayor of London. Detailed air quality audits were carried out in 50 schools across 23 London boroughs. The audits assessed the air quality in some of the capital’s worst polluted schools and have made a series of recommendations to protect pupils. These include major infrastructure measures, such as closing roads or moving playgrounds and school entrances, as well as targeting indoor pollution using improved ventilation systems, and installing green ‘pollution barrier’ hedges, tackling engine idling outside schools and promoting cycling and walking. The audits were conducted by global engineering consultancy WSP, who spent three months in schools assessing indoor and outdoor air pollution sources, looking at how students travel to school, and reviewing local walking routes including traffic crossings. One such school that has implemented a range of measures to improve its air quality is St Mary’s Bryanston Square Primary School in
Emily Norman, headteacher at Westminster, close to the busy St Mary’s Bryanston Square Marylebone Road. The school There Primary School, said: “Air has installed and tested a is evide quality is a big concern new filtration system to nce that the here at St Mary’s reduce pollution inside School. Our children the school. This is normal process of lung fu are extremely aware being delivered with growth nction of the dangers, both £20,000 in funding in suppres children is for their own health from the Mayor and s e d and for the community Westminster Council. b y term ex lo at large. We’re This coming summer, posure ngworking to combat the school will trial a pollutio to air n. this problem ourselves, year-long closure of the by encouraging more busy road, Enford Street, sustainable travel options, outside its entrance, to traffic at campaigning to stop vehicle idling the start and end of the school day. at the school gates, and turning the carpark The staff car park has been turned into a into a garden. The children have led the way garden and all staff and pupils are encouraged by monitoring traffic on nearby roads. to walk, cycle or use public transport. “We are very pleased to be part of the The school has also worked with British Mayor’s air quality audit, as it has identified Land to install a ‘green wall’ – a variety of ways to tackle air quality, such as closing plants across a playground wall – to the street to traffic at key points in the screen students playing outside school day and air filtration inside the from nearby traffic pollution. classrooms. This will make a real Pupils have also been difference to our children’s well-being involved in a ‘no-engine at school, and significantly enhance idling’ campaign to help the school’s work in this area.” educate their parents Fifty of the audited schools on reducing have received a £10,000 emissions. starter grant, and other London schools located in areas exceeding legal air pollution limits can apply for green infrastructure funding. E
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